Notification of Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
FERPA provides these rights:
- Parents have the right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day Goodwin College receives a request for access. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18.
- Parents and students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate. They should write to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is misleading.
If Goodwin College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the school will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his/her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.
Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or the eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose records, without consent, to school officials with legitimate educational interest. A school official is a person employed by the school in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the school has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agency); or a student serving in an official capacity, or assisting another school official in performing his/her tasks.
In addition, schools may disclose without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. Students age eighteen and older may request to restrict the release of directory information by filing a "Request to Restrict" form in the Registrar's Office. Students age 18 and older who wish to have information shared with parents, legal guardians, and/or significant others must file a "Permission to Release" form in the Registrar's Office. Goodwin College notifies parents and students annually of their rights under FERPA.
Parents and students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Goodwin College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
(202) 260-3887